16 Frozen Treats We All LOVED When Growing Up

Frozen in time

Whether they came from an ice cream truck or straight out of the freezer, we all have happy childhood memories of enjoying our favorite ice pop or ice cream. And while some are still around today, many have sadly disappeared. Here, we round up the best discontinued ice creams and ice pops of all, counting down to reveal the one we think most deserves a comeback.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the most-missed frozen treats of all – which ones did you grow up loving?

Our ranking is based on reviews, accolades, and the popularity of each item, taking into account sales, longevity, and the reaction to the products at the time of their release.

16. Jell-O Ice Cream Powder

Before fancy ice cream makers came along, Jell-O offered families the chance to whip up their own frozen goodies without the need for churning. This ice cream powder, which was sold in the US in the early 20th century, magically turned milk into ice cream when mixed and frozen on trays. It came in five flavors (including maple walnut and tutti-frutti), or you could buy the plain version and experiment with your own additions.

15. Bing Crosby Ice Cream

The so-called 'Cream of the Stars' hit shelves in the US in the 1950s, when Bing Crosby was at the peak of his popularity. The White Christmas crooner had his familiar face plastered on boxes of ice cream in flavors including vanilla and banana. The product may not have stuck around for long, but vintage boxes are now sold online as collectors’ items.

14. Dreamsicle

This orange-flavored ice pop had a contrasting ice milk center, which sounds pretty delightful – dreamy, in fact. But of all the Popsicle products featured in this 1961 ad, the Dreamsicle is the only one that’s no longer around. Perhaps because it was pretty similar to the Creamsicle, which had ice cream at its core. Sadly, Popsicle Pete – the mascot for the American brand from 1939 – has also long since departed.

13. Strato-Liner Sundae

Dairy Queen is known for its frozen desserts, but this particular treat was something completely different. The Strato-Liner Sundae, sold by the US fast food chain in the late 1950s, consisted of a frozen banana dipped in chocolate, placed on a bed of ice cream 'clouds' and topped with wafer 'wings,' so that it looked like it might take off if diners didn’t devour it quick enough.

12. Neilson’s Ice Cream

These colorful blocks of ice cream were the initial cornerstone of Canada’s Neilson Dairy, which started in the late 19th century when William Neilson invested all his money in dairy cows and hand-cranked ice cream makers. The ice cream proved hugely popular but with major sales limited to the summer months, the company turned its attention to other products with year-round appeal, including chocolates. It now focuses largely on milk.

11. Batman Slam Bang Ice Cream

Launched in the 1960s, when Batman was all cartoonish battles, 'Pow!' captions, and costumes in pastels and primary colors, this ice cream took full advantage of the TV show’s popularity in America. It was short-lived but sounds delicious, with banana marshmallows woven through classic vanilla ice cream. And, of course, the box was emblazoned with comic strips featuring the dynamic duo, Batman and Robin.

10. Carnation Ice Cream

Carnation’s Condensed Milk makes wonderful (and wonderfully easy) ice cream, cheesecakes, and countless other desserts. But back in the 1950s – when this photo of a group posing in front of a billboard in Los Angeles, California was taken – people didn’t need to make their own. Carnation sold perfectly churned ice cream and even had a Carnation Ice Cream Parlor at Disneyland, California, serving up scoops and sundaes. Both the product and the parlor, renamed Carnation Café, were phased out in the 1990s.

9. Howdy Doody Twin Pops

These ice pops were just the tip of the marketing iceberg for Howdy Doody – merchandise off the back of the popular US TV show ranged from toys with moveable mouths to cravats and lunchboxes. Among the frozen treats were these fruity Twin Pops, which despite being perfect for snapping in half and sharing with a friend, disappeared after the show ended in 1960.

8. York Peppermint Pattie Ice Cream

York Peppermint Patties, now produced by Hershey’s, have been around since 1940 and are a classic confectionary favorite. The mint fondant rounds, coated in dark chocolate, sound like the perfect base for a refreshing ice cream, and parent company Good Humor agreed when it launched a frozen version in the US in 2012. Somehow, they failed to fully take off and have since disappeared from freezer sections.

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7. Flintstones Push-Up Pops

You may still be able to get Push-Up Pops, but it's the Flintstones variety, popular in the 1990s, that people miss the most. With iconic flavor names such as Yabba-Dabba-Do Orange, Lime Rock Lime, and Bedrock Berry, the commercial for these pops even featured a rapping Fred Flintstone. The packaging also meant that as you pushed your ice pop up, any drips were caught, cleverly minimizing mess.

6. Popsicle Sprinklers Ice Cream Bars

A favorite from the 1990s, Popsicle Sprinklers consisted of vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate and covered in rainbow sprinkles. Discontinued in the early 2000s, there have been petitions to bring this colorful ice cream back – but sadly, it's yet to return.

5. Mickey's Parade Ice Pops

Produced by Good Humor, the fruity Mickey's Parade Ice Pops were a favorite frozen treat of the 1980s and 1990s. Shaped like the popular Disney characters, Mickey was cherry flavored, Donald Duck was grape, and Minnie and Goofy were orange. Despite being discontinued in the early 2000s, these ice pops still inspire a Facebook group, with more than 2,000 followers demanding their relaunch.

4. Mounds Ice Cream Bars

The iconic Hershey’s candy was transformed into a frozen dessert sold in the US in 2012. Taking the same flavors as the original Mounds chocolate bars, the choc ice–style treats featured coconut-flavored ice cream and coconut flakes coated in dark chocolate, and were also launched in limited-edition 'egg' shapes. Despite several other classics being brought back by Good Humor – including the much-loved Viennetta – these delicious bars are yet to return.

3. Klondike Choco Taco

The Klondike Choco Taco saw ice cream wrapped in a waffle cone (to resemble a taco shell), then dipped in chocolate and nuts. It launched in Philadelphia in 1983, and remained a popular treat until it was discontinued in July 2022. Available from ice cream trucks, grocery stores, and even eventually in selected Taco Bell restaurants, this treat is still missed by the masses.

2. Wavy Gravy

So many of Ben & Jerry’s discontinued ice cream flavors are mourned by fans that the Vermont-based company has a dedicated 'Flavor Graveyard' commemorating each one. Named after a peace activist and Woodstock emcee, Wavy Gravy launched in 1993 and was around until 2001. It was briefly resurrected in 2005, after customers voted for its comeback, but then disappeared again. Fans understandably still beg for the permanent return of this delicious combo of caramel, cashew, and Brazil nut ice cream with chocolate, fudge, and hazelnut swirls.

1. Jell-O Pudding Pops

Tears are still shed over the demise of General Foods' Jell-O Pudding Pops, creamy 'pudding on a stick' treats that were a popular freezer standby from the late 1970s. They were discontinued in the 1990s, then made a brief return, only to be scrapped again in 2011 as fans complained they just didn’t taste the same. Today, Jell-O sells Pudding Pop kits so people can try making their own at home.

Now discover the classic foods we loved growing up

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